Sumo wrestlers? Not role models

Josh at Far Outliers has another interesting piece on the history of sports in Asia. This one deals with the problems of gaining acceptance for sumo, a sport that appeared to be nothing more that street-fighting. My favorite part:

Promoters promised to control the incipient sport better and to donate a share of the profits to public works. Accordingly, benefit sumo was permitted in Edo in 1684, in Osaka in 1691, and in Kyoto in 1699. The authorities granted permits to hold benefit sumo almost every year after that.